Improvement in boot and shoe lasting machines



4Sheets-Sheet 2. G: W COPELAND, E. WOODWAR-D & M. BROGK. -Boot and Shoe Lasting Machine. No. 221,890. I Patented Nov. 18, I879.

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G. W. COPELAND, E. WOODWARD 8?; M. BROCK.

Boot and Shoe Lasting Machine. No. 221,890. Patented Nov. 18, I879.

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v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. G. W. COPELAND, E. WOO'DWARD & MVBROOK. Boot and Shoe Lasting Machine. No. 221,890. PatentedN v. Is, 1879.

I "1.??1 D TATE S PAT I GEORGE \V. COPELAND, OF MALDEN, AND ERASTUS WOODWARlD AND MATTHIAS BROOK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE COPELAND LAST IN G MACHINE COMPANY, OF HARTFOED,CONNECTI CUT.,

IMPROVEMENT lN BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,890, dated November 18, 1879; application filed June 20, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.

Beit'known that we, GEORGE WV. COPE- LAND, of Maiden, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and ERASTUS Woonwnnn and MATTHIAS BROOK, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, in said Commonwealth, have invented an Improvement in Boot and Shoe Lasting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object, first, means for jacking the boot or shoe by aid of a spindle arranged to enter a hole in the heel of the 1ElSl],tlld to be cramped therein by being inclined toward the toe-support and to be locked in that position, and a toe-support against or upon which the toe of the last is forced by the said cramping of the spindle, whereby the last is fastened in a manner to resist the upward stress of the side-lasting mechanism, in combination with adjustable devices for holding the edge of the upper at the toe and at or near the heel, whereby it may be suspended in the machine in proper relation to the side-lastin g mechanism before the jacking of the last; second, means for adjusting the girth-carrying fingers longitudinally upon their supportin g-block, whereby any desired change in their relative position may be effected in adjusting the girth for varying lengths of last; third, the combination of the said means for jacking the last with the described devices for suspending the upper; fourth, the combination of the said means for jacking the last with devices for suspending the upper and side lasting mechanism; fifth, various means for effecting adjustments of the various operative contrivances.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of our improvement in lasting machines, showing the heel-holding devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4is an enlarged view, showing the heel-holdin g devices when closed upon the surface of the last. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the means for adjusting the girtlbbearing gers longitudinally.

In this invention the last A is provided with a hole, a, at its heel end, adapted to receive the spindle a. The spindle is pivoted at a to a support, (P, which may be vertically adjustable, in such a manner as to be provided with a rocking movement toward and from the toe-support a.

The curved lever a lays hold of the base of the spindle at its pivotal point, and operates it by means of the rock-lever a treadle a and connecting-rod a The treadle is provided with aprojection or latch, a which looks into the ratchet a Any other suitable devices may be used for proand for looking it at any desired inclination in relation to the toe-support.

The lever 60 supports a lever, 11, which is pivoted to the upwardly-projectin g bracket b. This lever supports a spindle or stud, 12 which plays in a hole, If, in the lever to", and supports the cross-head D or other support for the heel-holding devices B. The cross-head is provided with vertical adjustment by means of the lever b, which maybe locked in any desired position by a pawl, a, and ratchet a, or by any other suitable mechanism.

/( Each of the upper-holdin g devices comprises a lower jaw, D which is attached to the arm I), pivoted at its lower end to the cross-head b to swing to and from the side of the last, and the upper jaw, N, which is provided with means of the lever 12, pivoted to the lower end ing the upper jaw. The arm I) is secured upon the arm I) by means of a set-screw, I), and slot 1). The toe-holding device 13 consists in the lowerjaw, b", which is formed upon the upper face of the standard 12 and the vertically-moving upper jaw, D which projects from the upper end of the arm I)", and is attached to the standard 11 by screws I) and slots I1 A cam-lever, b serves to operate the upper jaw through the connecting cam-pin b, which projects through a slot, 1), in the standard I); The standard I) carries the toe-support a and it is provided with horizontal vidin g the spindle with this tilting movement a movement to and from the lower jaw by of the arm b and the pin b, which enters the slot 1) in the lower end of the arm I), supportmovements to and from the toe of the last upon the frame of the machine by a screw, 11 and hand-wheel I). It may be provided with horizontal adjustment in any other desirable way, and it may also be given vertical adjustment, if necessary; but as means for effecting this last-named adjustment are fully described in the various Copeland patents, we do not need to further describe them here.

We do not, however, confine ourselves to the particular method of moving the standard herein shown, but propose to give the toe-support and toe-holding device, when arranged in relation to each other as herein described, any suitable vertical and horizontal movements, or either, by any suitable mechanism.

The girth C consists of a series of interlaced straps, c, with their upper ends attached to girth-bearing fingers c, and their lower ends to the springs 0 For further description of the method of construction and operation of this girth and the girth-supports, independent of the adjustments given them hereinafter named, attention is directed to thevarious Copeland patents on this subject.

It has been found desirable to provide the girth-supporting fingers with various adjustments longitudinally in relation to each other, in order that the girth may be properly shortened or lengthened to conform to the length of the last upon which it operates. We there fore provide the fingers l and 2 with lateral movements upon their supporting-block c by means of the screw 0 which plays in afemale screw, 0 in the block 0 and moves the same in the ways 0 The fingers 3 and 4c are provided with a like movement in the ways 0 by a screw, 0 and the block 0 The finger 5 is provided with a lateral movement by the screw 0" and the block 0 which slides in the ways 0 This finger, instead of beingpivoted to swinglengthwise of the last at its girth-bearing end, is pivoted at the opposite end at 0' The fingers 6 and 7 are provided with a lateral movement by the screw 0 which moves the block 0 in the ways '0 This construction provides almost unlimited range for the longitudinal adj ustment of the girth-supporting fingers, and,

consequently, of the girth.

The portion of the girth which is supported by the fingers 6 and 7, instead of crossing and passing through the jaws upon the opposite side, may be carried downward and attached to springs which are fastened to the levers which provide the jaws with the horizontal opening and closing movement. If so desired, the entire girth may be constructed in this manner. The straps which form this portion of the girth may be separate, or they may be formed from one piece of leather, or other suitable material, and be divided at the upper end, in order that they may be attached to separate fingers.

If desired, the lasting-machine and the operating-treadle may be supported by the plate D, which is pivoted at (Z to any suitable support, and the said supporting-plate may be inclosed by the metal wall, (1. j

In operation, the upper is adjusted in the machine by being suspended from the toe and heel holding devices. The last is then inserted on the spindle and jacked. The side lasting mechanism is then operated in the usual manner, at the same time closing the upper-holdin g devices at the heel toward the last by the contact of the pins 6 with the pivoted jaw-carrying arms. It is necessary to move these devices inwardly, in order that the edge of the upper may be folded upon the insole by the girth as it is lapped upon the insole.

Any suitable toe and heel lasting mechanism can be employed in connection with the devices herein enumerated, and reference is made to the various Copeland patents abovementioned for information in this regard.

The advantages of this invention consist in the simplicity and effectiveness of the means employed for jacking the last as compared with. that of the old methods, in the results obtained by supporting the upper in the manner indicated, and in the universal adjustment for length given the girth by providing the fingers with means for relative adjustment.

It will be observed that the upper-holding devices at the heel are of the same height, and therefore the edge of the upper on either side must be held at the same level during the lasting process.

When pinchers alone are used to assist in lifting the upper upon the last at the shank the strain is liable to be unequal, and, consequently, the upper may be drawn upwardly on one side more than it should, not only leavin g a scant margin for folding upon the other side, but also drawing the quarter and other seams out of line and disturbing the symmetry of the upper in this respect. If, however, the edge of the upper between the shank and the heel is rigidly held at a given point above the side-lasting mechanism, it will be impossible, even if pinchers are used, to so skew the upper by unequal strain as to cause the undesirable result above mentioned.

We are aware that the patent to Charles W. Glidden, No. 211,147, dated January 7, 1879, shows and describes upperholding devices adapted to grasp and hold the edges of the upper while the last is being crowded into it by down-holds or pressers adapted to bear upon the bottom of the inverted last in forcing the same thereon; and we do not claim the use of upper-holding'devices for this purpose.

The object of our invention is simply to provide fixed supports at or near the heel end of the last, and in some instances at the toe, for holding the edge of the upper in a true position, so that in the operation of the girth and folding plates, and in the use of pinchers on the hands of the operator, the upper may not be drawn too much to one side or the other as the fitting proceeds.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, as a means for preventing the displacement of the upper in relation to .the last during the operation of the girth, the combination of upper-holding devices for suspending the upper within the lasting-machine at the toe and at or near the heel, oreither, upon a given level, and for supporting it at said level during the action of the girth, with said girth, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of a device for supporting and holding the edge of an upper at the toe, provided with horizontal and 'vertical adjustments, or either, devices for holding or supporting the edge of the upper at or near the heel, provided with vertical adjustments and movements to and from the last, arranged and adapted to suspend the upper within the machine prior to the operation of the girth, and the said girth, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, devices for holding the edge of the upper at or near the heel, for the purpose of suspending that portion of the upper during the operation of the girths, means for vertically adjusting the said devices, and a girth adapted to wrap the upper upon the last, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, apair of devices arranged to hold the edge of the upper at or near the heel and to suspend it during the action of the girth, each of which is provided with a movement to and from the last, with said girth adapted to wrap the upper upon the last and fold its edge upon the surface of the insole, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of the vertical arm b provided with a jaw, b5, with the vertical arm b, provided with the jaw b", and means for moving the jaw b vertically toward and from the jaw b substantially as described.

6. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, a device consisting of two clamps for holding the edge of the upper at the heel to suspend it in relation to the girth, each. of which clamps is carried by an arm pivoted to a support below and behind the heel of the last to have a movement to and from the last, and each of which is arranged to project upon the surface of the insole when closed thereon, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, heel-holding devices for supporting the edge of the upper at or near the heel and for suspending it during the operation of the girth, means for adjusting the said devices vertically and for locking the adjusting mechanism in any desired position, and a girth for wrapping and adjusting the upper upon the last, all arranged-to operate substantially as described.

8. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of the treadle a and a device for locking the same in any desired position, the connecting-rod a levers a and a and the spindle a, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a lasting-machine, the combination of the spindle a, pivoted to the adjustable support 00 as described, with said adjustable support, the levers a a connecting-rod a and treadle a all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

10. In a lasting-machine, the combination of the spindle a, operatinglever 60', provided with the bracket 12, with the support 12, carrying the upper-holdin g devices, and the operating-lever b and its locking mechanism, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

11. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of a girth, O, with its supporting-fingers c, supportingblocks 0 c c 0 and screws for adjusting said blocks laterally upon the operatin g j aws, whereby the girth may be shortened or lengthened to conform to the length of the last, substantially as and for the purposes described.

12. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of the spindle a, adapted to be cramped in the spindlehole of the last by the contacting of the last with the toe-support a, and the toesupport, as a means for supporting the last in the lasting-machine during the operation of the last ing mechanism, with the girth 0, all arranged in relation to each other, to operate substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

13. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of the upper-holding devices for suspending the upper within the lasting machine at the toe and at or near the heel, or either, upon a given level, and for supporting it at said level during the action of the girth, the spindle a, adapted to be cramped in the spindle-hole of the last by the contacting of the last with the toe support a and the toe-support, as a means for supporting the last in the lasting-machine, and a girth, 0, adapted to adjust and wrap the upper upon the last, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

14. The combination, in a lasting-machine, of the device for supporting the edge of the upper at or near the heel, having a movement to and from the last, the jaws carrying the girth-supportingfingers, the girth 0, adapted to adjust and wrap the upper upon the last, and to fold its edge upon the surface of the insole, all arranged so that upon the closing of the said jaws said heel-holding devices are moved toward the last, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

15. In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of the girthsupporting fingers c, the straps 0, divided or not, as may be desired, and the springs 0 attached to the lever operating the jaws horizontally, substantially as described.

16; In a machine for lasting the uppers of boots and shoes, the combination of a jacking mechanism consisting of a toe-support and a spindle, adapted to be cramped in the spindlehole, as indicated, with the last, and verticallyadjustable clamps, for suspending the upper by its edges at the toe or on both its sides near the heel, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

GEO. W. COPELAND. ERASTUS \VOODWARD. MATTHIAS BROOK.

Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 201, A. J. OETTINGER. 

